SBP not closing door on Chot, Gilas core to return

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas is temporarily dissolved but the core, including head coach Chot Reyes, might still be there in the next national team.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios clarified this amidst reports that the Gilas team that placed runner-up in the last FIBA Asia Men’s Championship and competed in the FIBA World Cup and the Asian Games has been disbanded.

“Wala kaming napag-usapan regarding sa formation ng next national team. Sa (SBP) board meeting, tinackle nila how future national teams will be formed,” Barrios told Philstar.com late Thursday.

Two committees were formed that will have a say in the formation of the next national teams.

“Yung isa ay not involving PBA, which will be the national teams for the SEA Games, SEABA and other lesser tournaments while the other, is for elite tournaments like the FIBA Asia Championship,” Barrios said.

The SBP board members representing the UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, NAASCU and Barrios will man the selection committee for national teams not involving PBA players.

For the senior men’s national team that will compete in the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in August next year which will serve as a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics, four SBP board members will join president Manny V. Pangilinan on the selection committee.

The other members of the selection committee are SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas, the PBA commissioner Chito Salud and league chairman Patrick Gregorio, and PBA D-League chairman Robert Non.

Barrios explained that the PBA and D-League spots in the selection committee are based on position and not on personality meaning Salud, Gregorio and Non’s spots will be taken over by the person who will succeed them.

The selection committee, according to Barrios, will be tasked to short-list candidates for the head coaching position and the players in the national pool.

“So possible pa ring makasama si (coach) Chot Reyes sa listahan since the selection committee has not yet convened,” Barrios said. "We're not closing the door."

Tim Cone and Yeng Guiao, whose names were floated by fans online as possible replacement for Reyes, have already declined to accept it in past interviews stating that the national coach is a full-time job. 

Barrios said that the next coach will also have a free hand in forming the team. 

"We're not giving the next coach an escape clause. Kung may mga players na hindi kasama sa listahan ng selection committee na gusto ng coach natin eh ipunin niya ang mga gusto niya dahil in the end, siya rin naman ang gigisain kapag natalo," Barrios said.

The selection committee's choice will be up for approval of the SBP board.